Midnight...

Yesterday, Midnight kept proffering me his belly to tickle. And I was wary after the other day. But he seemed to insist it was okay. His paws were relaxed, not curled up ready to grab. So I gently tickled his whole belly.  His eyes smiled in satisfaction. Blimey.

I had just suncreamed his cut off ear. That was bliss to him again. Then I thought, while he is in such a good mood, maybe I could brush him with a soft brush. So I got the brush, and he instantly panicked looking at it, (thinking maybe I was going to hit him?), so I spoke softly, and he said okay then.  I brushed his head, then back, and he offered up his belly again.  That is pushing it for any cat, to be able to brush their belly. Even Popeye gave me the vice like attack on my arm when I touched his belly. So I brushed very gently. And he was very happy. I push my luck, as always, so got the wire brush (it was behind my back as I approached him), just let him see the soft brush, then swapped while his eyes were closed in bliss.

Then his eyes opened, 'what is this? his eyes said. So I showed it for him to sniff, and did the side of his face with it. And he said okay. 

He has some matted dead fur on the rear end of his back, and I tried to work into the edges of that very gently. When he said no, he didn't vocalise but he got off the swing and went under the table.  I was pleased because he didn't go for me, but laid his own boundaries out in his way. There was no animosity from him when he got back on the swing, so, I just did hand strokes, and brushes are put away until another day.

This is amazing progress with him. He wandered into this garden about a month ago, a bullish, resentful (possibly scared as well) scruffy tomcat on the top of my garage roof. Now he looks pretty good, fur is silky, and is eating far far less now he knows all he has to do is ask for food and I give him a small sachet of wet food. If I am locking up at night and I haven't given him his supper yet, he thinks I have forgotten and he rushes into the study doorway and won't let me get inside the bungalow until I get a fresh sachet of cat food for him...he is very vocal if I forget his supper...I don't forget his supper, but I am just clearing up prior to locking up, and he wants to make sure I have remembered.

I reckon he has not left this garden at all for about a week now. 

He has had belly tickles already this morning and absolutely loves them. Unusual cat. He does disconcert me a bit because he lashes his tail when he is happy. Confusing to me trying to gauge what is acceptable to him. 

No art today, just a collage of Midnight showing his pearly whites. This is the first time I have seen him open his mouth that wide. And each time I put my phone camera in front of me to take a photo of his lovely eyes, he did the slow blink thing. So, no photos of his eyes. Nothing wrong with them, he just trusts my phone camera...

I could see his back paw pads look as though they have walked very long distances.  But it could be because of his football shape, he cannot reach them to clean them. So, that is on the list for today, a foot massage and pedicure...wish me luck...

I think he is a much older cat. Popeye looked much younger than Midnight does and Popeye was nearly 30 years old. How old is Midnight? Ten, Eleven, Twelve, older?

Jade is the second customer for the cat diner this morning. Midnight is totally accepting of her. He is just watching her eat now. Jade is not bolting her food now. She is eating slowly.

The ravens are incredibly noisy this morning. The Bluetits and GreatTits have arrived together. Mr Blackbird is around less now.

Everyone else, all bird and cat regular customers were present and correct yesterday.

And I am ready for my first nap of the day!
But a hot cuppa first.

No creative today, just a collage of Midnight. 



I am still waiting for my full membership to be restored, hence the collage and no digital painting as well...